Geriatric Medicine

BCHS Inpatient Geriatric Consult Service

The BCHS Inpatient Geriatric Consult Service team consists of a Geriatrician, a Care of the Elderly Physician and two Registered Nurses who work in collaboration with the interdisciplinary team on the referring unit.

The Geriatric Consult Service is designed to provide inpatient consultation services for older adults who present with complex functional, medical and/or psychosocial issues. Our team uses a comprehensive geriatric assessment and provides consultation to the older adult who requires a coordinated approach to care.

Some of the reasons to consult our team include: frailty (recent functional decline/frequent hospital visits), acute confusion/delirium, query dementia or behaviors related to dementia, polypharmacy, and falls/decline in mobility.

Inclusion Criteria: Age ≥ 65 years (no age restriction for referrals for suspected dementia).
Exclusion Criteria: Discharge from hospital expected within 48 hours or the only reason for referral is a need for a capacity evaluation.

Integrated Dementia Resource Team (DREAM Team)

Individuals living with dementia are a key priority population of focus in Brantford. It is estimated that over 3,700 people in Brantford/Brant live with dementia and are cared for by 6,000 individuals whose own well-being is often impacted by demands of their role as a caregiver. The recognition of this growing need led to the creation of the Brantford Brant Norfolk OHT (BBNOHT) Dementia Working Group. By incorporating expertise and representation from multiple local service provider organizations, the BBNOHT Dementia Working Group was able to identify gaps in care and develop innovative solutions to emergency department diversion.

In April 2021, after extensive preparation and planning, an Integrated Dementia Resource Team was embedded in the Brantford General Hospital (BGH) Emergency Department (ED) as a pilot project. This team continues to support ED staff in identifying, communicating with, and redirecting patients with dementia to more appropriate outreach support options.

Also referred to as the DREAM Team – Dementia Resources Education Advocacy Mentorship – the Integrated Dementia Resource Team, comprised of a community resource team member (led by the Alzheimer Society), hospital navigator, and home and community care support services, identifies appropriate community resources and helps patients and caregivers to access them. Additional benefits include educating front-line staff on strategies to reduce triggers and responsive behaviours, provide one-on-one support and consultation to patients and families, suggest coping tactics to foster resiliency and prevent future emergency room use, offer respite programs to relieve caregiver burden, and provide follow-up through referrals to transition patients from the hospital to home.

Seniors Assessment Service (formally known as Memory and Geriatric clinic)

The Seniors Assessment Service at GRCHC operates using a MINT Memory Clinic-based model with enhanced care of the elderly/ geriatric expertise. We work collaboratively with the Regional Geriatric Program, Branford Brant Norfolk OHT, Brant Community Healthcare System, and the Alzheimer’s society of Brant.

• The program is referral- based. Referrals are triaged according to issues identified by the referring physician or primary care provider
• Clinics currently run on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
• Located at the Grand River Community Health Centre: 363 Colborne Street, Brantford.

Common reasons for referrals include:

• Cognitive changes
• Mobility changes, falls, frailty
• Polypharmacy
• Behaviours related to dementia
• Caregiver burden

How to be referred:
Speak to your primary care provider to make a referral through the Central Clinical Intake | RGP Central, Geriatric Services.

All referrals for the Seniors Assessment Service must be sent through the Regional Geriatric Program, Central Clinical Intake.

Note: Please check off “Geriatric Medicine” and “Brant” on Page 2 of the referral form.

Senior Friendly Care E-Learning Series

A free, self-paced, introductory-level series of online modules on Senior Friendly Care is now available for clinicians. It covers the following topics: delirium, loneliness, mobilization, nutrition, pain, polypharmacy, and urinary incontinence. Each learning module includes:

• Presentation with commentary by a geriatric clinician
• Quiz to assess learning
• Resource page with links to tools referenced in the module
• Certificate of completion once the quiz has been completed

Click here to access the modules.